Saturday, March 29, 2008

Yozakura means “night cherry blossom,” and, as such, has a recognized place in the Japanese spring canon. As expected, it has associations with the more seminal aspects of beauty - its forbidden and passionate side.

This year’s cherry blossom season is now at its peak (mankai) and Tokyo’s parks, in particular Shinjuku Gyoen and Ueno Park, were seething with picnickers vying for a coveted place under today’s cascading branches and blue skies.

Even by evening the streets were fuller than usual and there was a carnival sheen to the general atmosphere of the city. Nevertheless, the cherry blossom viewing crowds were gone and the cherry blossom were left in solitude, sometimes grand...

...sometimes wistful

Whether gracing main streets or decorating hidden corners of the city, the sakura-in-shadow each weaving spells of their own.
In the schoolyard...